Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
Kramer resigns from board of elections
By William Kincaid
Del Kramer of Celina has resigned from his position of chairman of the Mercer County Republican Party and chairman of the Mercer County Board of Elections.
Republican Party Vice Chairman Tom Zitter said the county Republican Party received an e-mail from Kramer on Friday afternoon that stated his desire to step down as chairman for personal reasons. Then on Monday, Kramer informed the Mercer County Board of Elections that he will no longer serve on its board, Zitter said. Kramer was unavailable for comment.
Kramer has been president of the Republican Party for a little over a year.
Zitter called Kramer a good guy and said he did not indicate anything about leaving the party.
Kramer's resignation was unexpected, Mercer County Board of Election member Betty Cook said.
"We were real surprised," she said.
Cook said Kramer had not given prior indication of leaving.
"I never realized anything, that he was going to leave us. It was just a real surprise to all of us," Cook said, adding she enjoyed working with Kramer.
Zitter said the party probably won't elect a new chairman for at least another month.
But next week, the party most likely will appoint someone to the board of elections.
The board of elections consists of Betty Cook and Mark Uhlenhake, both Democrats, and Owen Hall, a Republican.
Kramer, who owns an insurance-based company, was voted the board of elections chairman in April 2007, following several years of Cook heading the board.
